Watching Garth Davis' "Lion," about a 5-year-old Indian boy who gets lost thousands of miles from his home, the innate humanitarian in you wonders just how many years of do-gooding it might take to put a dent in the horrific squalor the tale depicts. The poverty, the social equivalent of that stench-filled restaurant bathroom that has never left your psyche, is overwhelming. Shocked by the no-holds barred expose of how 80 percent of the world lives in destitution, you are humbled by your good fortune.

Granted, scripture reads that "The poor will always be with you," and there has never been any shortage of those wicked sorts who have seized that phrase as

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Damien Armstrong, 18, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of home invasion, and assault in a dwelling house with a dangerous weapon. He was released on $5,000 bail. Armstrong is accused of breaking into a house on Onota Street in Pittsfield on December 16, 2016 and assaulting a 27-year-old man inside. Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Feb. 23. Riley Nolan, 22, of Clarksburg had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of cocaine, and

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Every week since Inauguration Day and continuing through the end of 2017, Melanie Mowinski, an associate professor of visual arts at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will print a new letterpress card in a limited edition of 100, using vintage letterpress type, cuts and other printing matrixes.

After making a card of FDR's Four Freedoms on Inauguration day, Mowinski decided to make a card every week for the entire 2017 year. She calls this mission "The 50 Card Project." In total, she will create 50 different cards or 5,000 individual cards. As they are completed each week, she will send 15 to 20 to key players in Washington, D.C.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lee Bank has joined in the support for the deployment of a gunshot detection system. Lee Bank is donating $5,000 toward the ShotSpotter contract. The technology is eyed to be installed this year and is used to detect and pinpoint the sound of gunshot, letting officers know on the spot when a weapon is fired on city streets. "Pittsfield is important to all of Lee Bank's stakeholders and is crucial to the success and stability of Berkshire County overall," wrote Lee Bank President Chuck Leach in a letter to Mayor Linda Tyer. "We are pleased to support this program because I strongly believe it will help to improve the quality

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Westway River Park project is starting to come to fruition. Permitting Coordinator Nate Joyner told the Parks Commission on Tuesday that new park space should be opening this summer on Dewey Avenue. The city had acquired a number of parcels, mostly through tax title, and has been working to demolish existing buildings and clean contaminants from the soil. That work is 75 percent complete, Joyner said, with the final touches being done this spring. There is also one final building remaining in area which is also scheduled to be razed this year. Then the new open space are will available for public use. "It was heavily overgrown with a

The project includes underground stormwater chambers to eliminate the standing water problems which exist in the lot now. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The First Street parking lot is set for a rehabilitation. The city awarded Maxymillian Construction the contract to overhaul the 241-space municipal lot. Parking kiosks are planned to be installed. According to Commissioner of Public Services David Turocy, the construction is expected to start when weather allows this spring and conclude by June 30. "We expect the project to be done in two phases, roughly the equivalent number of parking spaces in each, to allow some continued use of the parking lot during

Director of Finance Matthew Kerwood presented an update on the current year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — To date, the city is hitting its estimates for revenue.

But there are still some budget lines that are being monitored.

Director of Finance Matthew Kerwood presented a report of the city's fiscal 2017 expenditures to date. He said so far there are a few budget lines that look to go into deficit but revenues are trending upward. The city receives its local revenue from just two sources: tax collections and local receipts. The city has a strong collection rate of 96 percent historically when it comes to collecting property and personal property taxes and that trend is

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — It likely will be at least mid-June before there is any talk of a trial date in the case of the United States vs. Alexander Ciccolo.

On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson set June 20 for the next hearing in the case, which has dragged on for more than 18 months while the Adams man accused of federal terrorism offenses is held in a Rhode Island detention facility.

Robertson also ordered the exclusion of the time between Wednesday and June 20 from the speedy trial rules while Ciccolo's counsel and the U.S. Attorney's Office continue to discuss what evidence needs to be turned over to the defense.

The Berkshire Dream Center began from the vision that Miner received during her trip to the Los Angeles Dream Center in 2007. The LA Dream Center was founded by Pastor Matthew and Tommy Barnett in 1994 and is a volunteer driven organization that has more than 273 different types of outreaches. In the summer of 2011, the Berkshire Dream Center was founded and found its home in the Morningside neighborhood of Pittsfield. Shortly after

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — You thought your family was weird? The Miss Hall's School Theater Ensemble presents its take on oddball households, performing the musical comedy "The Addams Family" in shows at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, and in a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Gomez and Morticia Addams have tried to raise their children right — by Addams family standards. Then Wednesday Addams invites her new boyfriend, Lucas Beineke, and his parents to dinner. Intent on enjoying a simple family dinner, Wednesday and Lucas instruct their families to "act normal," which proves easier said than done. As the dinner unravels, a terrible storm

It's tax time again – which for many Americans means that a tax refund is on its way. If you're going to get a refund this year, how can you use the money to your best advantage?

Of course, it's always tempting to spend the check from Uncle Sam on something fun. But a tax refund could be sizable – the average amount in 2016 was $2,857, according to the IRS – so putting this money to work could help boost your progress toward your financial goals.

Here are some possibilities for using your refund:

* Help fund your IRA. If you were to receive a tax refund of $2,857, you'd have slightly more than half of the $5,500 annual IRA contribution limit for 2017,